MACHINE AND METHOD FOR TREATING A WORKPIECE

Abstract

Provided is an apparatus for treating a workpiece, in particular a plate-shaped workpiece, said apparatus comprising: a coating device configured to apply a coating material, in particular a strip-shaped coating material, to a workpiece; a lacquer application device configured to apply a lacquer to the coating material; and a structuring device configured to adjust a gloss value and/or a haptic property of the surface provided with the lacquer.

Claims

1. An apparatus for treating a workpiece, comprising: a coating device configured to apply a coating material to a workpiece; a lacquer application device configured to apply a lacquer to the coating material; and a structuring device configured to adjust a gloss value or a haptic property of the surface provided with the lacquer.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a printing device configured to print on a surface of the coating material.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the lacquer application device comprises a nozzle for spray application, an inkjet print head, or a roller.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the structuring device comprises an excimer lamp, an IR lamp, a microwave source, or an LED source.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a conveying device configured to move the workpiece in a throughput direction.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a machining unit configured to trim the surface of the workpiece to be provided with the coating material.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a finishing device having a trimming aggregate, a scraper or a machining aggregate comprising a rotating machining tool.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a cleaning device configured to clean the coating material applied to the workpiece.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a plasma treatment device configured to generate a plasma in order to blow the plasma onto the coating material applied to the workpiece by means of compressed air.

10. A method for treating a workpiece, comprising the steps of: applying a coating material to a workpiece; applying a lacquer to the coating material; and structuring the surface of the lacquer for adjusting a gloss value or a haptic property.

11. The method according to claim 10, further comprising the step of printing on a surface of the coating material.

12. The method according to claim 10, wherein the application of the lacquer is carried out by means of a nozzle for spray application, an inkjet print head or a roller.

13. The method according to claim 10, wherein the structuring is carried out by means of an excimer lamp, an IR lamp, a microwave source, or an LED source.

14. The method according to claim 10, wherein prior to application of the coating material, the surface of the workpiece to be coated is machined.

15. The method according to claim 10, wherein the steps for treating the workpiece are carried out in one pass.

16. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the printing device comprises at least one print head.

17. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the conveying device comprises a transport belt, a conveyor chain, or a conveyor belt.

18. The method according to claim 10, wherein the workpiece comprises a plate-shaped workpiece and the coating material comprises a strip-shaped coating material.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0026] Further features and advantages are apparent with reference to the accompanying drawing.

[0027] FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of an apparatus for printing workpieces according to an embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT

[0028] FIG. 1 shows a schematic side view of an embodiment of an apparatus 1 according to the invention, which is used for printing on a narrow side of a plate-shaped workpiece. A workpiece of this type may be made at least in parts of wood or wood materials. For example, it is a plate or a panel for a piece of furniture, a floor or ceiling panel, a kitchen worktop or the like.

[0029] For moving the workpieces to be treated by the apparatus 1, the apparatus 1 comprises a conveying device by means of which workpieces can be moved through the apparatus 1 in a throughput direction D. The conveying device is configured, for example, as a transport belt, a conveyor chain or a conveyor belt. The apparatus 1 may be further provided with a so-called top pressure member with which the workpieces moving in the throughput direction D are pressed against the conveying device.

[0030] The apparatus 1 includes an infeed area 10 in which a workpiece can be inserted into the apparatus 1. It is also possible to feed workpieces to the infeed area 10 by means of a feed device (not shown).

[0031] Located adjacent to the infeed area 10 is a machining unit 20 configured to machine, in particular trim, a narrow surface of a workpiece moved in the throughfeed direction D. The machining unit 20 comprises one or more machining aggregates with which machining can be performed. For example, a machining aggregate of the machining unit 20 can be used to produce a flat surface. The machining unit 20 may further comprise a machining aggregate to provide a radius or a chamfer on a narrow surface of the workpiece.

[0032] In the throughput direction D, downstream of the machining unit 20, the apparatus 1 comprises a coating device 30 configured to apply a strip-shaped coating material to the narrow surface of the plate-shaped workpiece machined by the machining unit 20. Such a coating material comprises either a pre-coated adhesive layer or an activatable portion, or the coating material and/or the narrow surface of the workpiece is/are provided with an adhesive. The coating device 30 is configured to press the coating material against the narrow side of the workpiece.

[0033] Provided downstream of the coating device 30 is a finishing device 40 with which a projecting portion of the coating material can be removed and/or it is ensured that the coating material is flush with the workpiece dimensions. The finishing device 40 may comprise a trimming aggregate and/or a scraper that is/are configured to cut off protruding coating material. Alternatively or additionally, the finishing device 40 comprises a profile milling aggregate with which profile milling on a rear or front narrow surface of the workpiece is carried out.

[0034] The apparatus 1 further comprises a cleaning device 50 in order to clean the workpiece, in particular the coated narrow surface of the workpiece, prior to further processing. The cleaning device 50 may, in particular, comprise a circumferential cloth that is moved relative to the coating material applied to the narrow side of the workpiece and thus removes machining residues, dust or the like from the coating material.

[0035] The apparatus 1 further comprises a plasma treatment device 60 configured to generate a plasma, spatially separated from a high-voltage discharge, so as to blow the plasma onto the coating material on the workpiece by means of compressed air. In the course of this, the surface is slightly heated.

[0036] Provided downstream of the plasma treatment device 60, in the throughput direction D, is an adhesion promoter application device 70 with which a promoter (primer) is applied to the coating material. Using the adhesion promoter application device 70, the surface of the coating material provided on the workpiece is prepared for subsequent printing such that the surface has improved wetting and adhesion properties.

[0037] Provided adjacent to the adhesion promoter application device 70 is an inkjet printing device 80 comprising one or more print heads. The print heads are configured as inkjet print heads and can apply a printing material (ink) on the surface to be printed. The inkjet print head of the inkjet printing device 80 can perform multicolor printing and output the colors black, magenta, yellow, and cyan for this purpose. These colors are appropriately combined with each other to apply a multicolored pattern due to their combination.

[0038] Provided downstream of the inkjet printing device 80, in the throughput direction D, is a lacquer application device 90 that can apply lacquer to the printed surface of the workpiece. The lacquer application device 90 may comprise a nozzle for spray application, an inkjet print head, or a roller.

[0039] Provided adjacent to the lacquer application device 90 is a structuring device 100 comprising an excimer lamp. The structuring device 100 allows a targeted structuring of the lacquer that has not yet cured or has not completely cured, so that a specific gloss value and/or haptic properties of the surface can be adjusted. The gloss value can be measured as a reflectometer value according to ISO 2813. Moreover, owing to the use of the structuring device 100, a specific haptics is produced and the lacquer is further hardened.

[0040] Provided downstream in the throughput direction D is further an inspection device 110 comprising a camera to inspect the surface of the workpiece treated by the aforementioned devices, in particular the surface of the coating material on the workpiece printed and treated by the structuring device 100, and to assess the surface quality.

[0041] The apparatus 1 has the advantage that the aforementioned devices 20 to 100 are provided in one apparatus, so that the workpiece can pass through a plurality of machining steps without further realignment and, in particular, in one clamping operation. This increases the reproducibility and the quality of the external appearance of the workpiece since the respective machining steps can be precisely coordinated with one another.